From the Heart by B.Demaere

  Pride goes before destruction...(Proverbs 16:18) Few days ago as we were celebrating our anniversary in an undisclosed location in the city.  We had to go up one of those parkade. On that celebratory day, my wife praised me as I was driving up faster and faster from one level to the other. No problem! I could handle that curve...my confidence and pride increased.  I wanted to impress her on this memorable day.  I thought as I was approaching this narrow passage: "Watch this, I can do better"....SSCRAAAPE...You could hear coming from the front corner of the car.  I thought simultaneously: $500...$1000.. At the same time, I heard my wife yell: "Bernard!" in disgust. She just wasn't praising me anymore.  Her tone had changed abruptly. Anyway, I thought it made for an interesting story.  An anniversary we will always remember. Fortunately, the fender was already a bit damaged, but now the cost of the repairs were going to increase. Later on, we could both laugh ab

  Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure.  But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and conscience are defiled.  Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live.  They are despicable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good.(Titus 1:15-16) 1) The Problem with Sin Inevitably, sin is a problem for the person who is never happy in the circumstances of life.  Always complaining and never quite there yet in contentment, not at all satisfied with God and fellow individuals.  Maybe you know some of those people.  They seem to continually envy others and wished that they be in their place of prestige.  The problem with this reasoning is that they only see part of that 'prestige' pie.  In reality though, some parts are invisible to them.  We can judge others easily by looking from the outside into their lives.  We, of all people, however don't see their hearts or all of their circumstances that the

  If you know the Truth and you don't practice it, I am sorry to say but you are a fool.  I don't say it the Bible say that. The Apostle Paul in chapter 1 of 2Timothy became aware that he had been deserted by many Christians.  Notice, there is no bitterness here.  In verse 16-18 he focuses on the Christians that offer support namely Onesipherus and his family.  This one was the only one that offer him support right there.  Sometimes, people will seemingly desert you, but don't be offended by them.  Leave them in God's hand. There was at the time a teenager who grew more and more depressed as he saw the world around him become more and more ugly.  How he began to hate the world around him and how he hated the very being that he had become.  Naturally, he even hated the parents that had brought him in the world and had made a mess of his life.  Those were the filthy fifties when everybody looked on the outside for a change. The Sun had not shone in as of yet and he endure

  Search me, O God, and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts (Psalm 139:23) Taking a Stand Have you ever heard that the Bible was full of 'violence'?  The Bible, it and of itself is a very aggressive book.  It is for people who want to take a stand in life.  Humans, can't generally say 'no' and compromise about a lot of things.  They can't take a stand for what is right and have no convictions.  As for Christians, we are not any better than others if we can't take a stand for Christ.  Weak people do go with the flow and don't have a sense of personal leadership.  They cannot take control over their own 'self', but let 'self' run its own course.  Only with God can the weak become strong!  It takes some strong people to make a strong world.  We need warriors and people who believe in prayer. People sleep peaceably in their beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf -George Orwell The Bible is S

  Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy , to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.  (Romans 12:1-2 NIV) Since yesterday, have you soaked in God's mercy for you, a Gentile?  Good! Furthermore, think of the amazing investment God made in you and me.  For that reason, we call it 'Amazing Grace'  God poured all that he had into us Gentiles in order to save us.  Think of it, it's just amazing! Yesterday, we observed that God has momentarily left the Jews in their own rebellion, but not forgetting them because of his promise made long ago. O! Don't misunderstand me, if they want to be born again there is room for them.  He will always remember them as his chosen people.  We, a

Many of the Jews are now enemies of the Good News.  But it has been to your benefit, for God has given his gifts to you Gentiles.  Yet the Jews are still his chosen people because of his promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  For God's gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.  Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the Jews refused his mercy, God was merciful to you instead.  And now, in the same way, the Jews are the rebels, and God's mercy has come to you.  But someday they, too, will share in God's mercy.  For God has imprisoned all people in their own disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.(Romans 11:28-32) This might feel like a different post. I felt necessary to let my fellow Gentiles know that the gifts God has given us are not to be taken for granted.  For a time now, God has turned the Jews over to their rebellion.  In order that he might show them mercy again before he returns after they repent . Supernaturally, he did this for the sake

The Big Question (Romans 7:4) : To die you must leave something behind. Forsake and forget. It is good to die for the right reason and the right person. Christ is the answer. With Christ you die and are also risen.